Thread: Won’t be retro...

Thought I would bring up the subject of towing and payload of the new Defender.

What would you rather tow a 3.5 tonne load with a full payload a D4 or D5 with air suspension or a 110/130 130 Defender.

JLR are on record as saying there will be a family of defender's so I imagine that there will be a cab chassis and a dual cab and maybe a 130 dual cab down the track.

The new Discovery and no doubt the new Defender (which will probably up this) will let you tow 3.5 tonnes WITH a full payload, 921kg on the D5.

That along with the safety of a level ride despite any conditions, ESC and all the conveniences of air suspension for towing would direct me towards an air suspension vehicle for towing or full payload driving.

For me the potential of the new defender as a safe towing vehicle and hence a workhorse is really quite positive. But I see it being targeted as an adventure vehicle at first.

IS THE NEW DISCOVERY THE TOW KING TO RULE THEM ALL? - RV DAILY

Originally Posted by DiscoClax

The thing that gladdens my heart is the confirmation of tyre diameter. Ø 815mm / 32" means there are many suitable, capable, credible options in 18 and even 20" for off-roading. 33x12.50R20 would be a cinch at only +1" and the range of proper tyres in that size is extremely good. Admittedly the fitted tyre size (255/60R20) is typically LR oddball and uncommon, but there are many tyres around that size that are interchangeable (275/55R20 as one example - same diameter, slightly wider (isn't that the size they put on the SVX?)). In 18" there is the very common 275/65R18 size as one of many options (32") like 33x12.50R18. So LR have continued to put the Defo at the top of the tree tyre-size wise. Yay! 6" of sidewall on a 20" means 7" on an 18" - at standard diameter.... and who does that?!

I have STUFFED my L320 with 285/60R18s and they rub everywhere. And that gets me less sidewall than the Defo will have in standard trim. My D1 on 235/85R16s barely has any more than a new Defo on 18s with a mild +1" increase. It's all a matter of perspective.

And confirmation of both steel coils and airbags also pleases me greatly. Airbags for me any and every day for a daily, but I completely understand the want for simple/cheap/dependable and coils fill that need.

So much doom and gloom here over the death of the 'real' Defender. But I see this as an evolution that makes it more relevant for the 21st century. The reality is that Defender/LC79/G-Wagen vehicles are just not feasible given current and future global legislation. They only exist today under 'grandfather' clauses that allow them to continue as pre-existing designs. In a decade they'll likely all be gone as the legislators are aggressively trying to get rid of them. And I truly do lament that, but realise it caters to a low-volume minority. In the new Defo we are seeing the future.... like it or not. Old Defos exist and always will so I can buy one anytime and enjoy its raw simplicity (and I really do - love 'em). This new generation makes capable off-roading so much more accessible and comfortable and moves the game on and I really like that, too

Great reasonable comment!

Does anyone that knows anything about engine sounds know if this sounds like a straight six.

The new defender is said to have a straight 6 engine turbo'd and supercharged.

YouTube

Land Rover reveals Ingenium straight-six powerplant

On my calcs if you could (Could...given the commentator in the Moyab video said the 20 inch rims were needed to clear massive disks...not sure if he had a good look or not) get 18s on then the following is interesting. Shows stock 20's versus 1 inch up total diameter on 18's and doing that on 18's gets slightly more sidewall than my 245/75/16 on the D2.AND a 33in set up. So then I would be sold. Pricey unless a delete option at purchase but good kit.

Cheers

We've seen various sized brakes and wheels clearly visible on the protos. Looks like the Moab cars had the big brakes (like Nurburgring). Maybe they were real-world testing the big brake, big wheel version? I'd have a pretty high level of confidence the 'lower engines' will be on 18s (or smaller) and the 'higher engines' will be on 20s (or larger). No different to previous execution on L319/320/322/494, etc.

So that would mean it's quite possible that we are back with 20inch where you can't fit 18's... and on the 18 you can only go up marginally in tyre sidewall and can't drop down rim size either... so maybe not so good. Cheers

Again, only for the high performance versions... Ingenium six perhaps. Just like the current situation across the rest of the range. HiPo = big brakes to meet ECE regs. Pick a 'sensible' powerplant and you'll be on 18s (or maybe smaller).
Notwithstanding the aftermarket potentially squeezing a rim size smaller (like TuffAnt and Compos, both of which will likely bolt on with the current caveats).

Originally Posted by DiscoClax

We've seen various sized brakes and wheels clearly visible on the protos. Looks like the Moab cars had the big brakes (like Nurburgring). Maybe they were real-world testing the big brake, big wheel version? I'd have a pretty high level of confidence the 'lower engines' will be on 18s (or smaller) and the 'higher engines' will be on 20s (or larger). No different to previous execution on L319/320/322/494, etc.

This was my reasoning too, multiple brakes, multiple wheels. Good to see even on the big wheels and big brakes it still has decent sidewall at moab, add 2 inch bigger tyres on and better again.